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Indonesia quake: 'Tsunami warning system needs improvement'

In an interview with DW, tsunami researcher Widjo Kongko has criticized Indonesia's disaster management agencies for their failure to deal with the Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami. Was the government unprepared?

The Southeast Asian country on Monday called for international help to deal with the aftermath.

Indonesian authorities have confirmed at least 1,200 people died as a result of the earthquake off the coast of the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. The popular tourist resort of Palu was also severely affected by the twin disasters.

Authorities expect the death toll to increase dramatically due to shortages of medicine and rescue equipment. Rescue workers have already begun to complain of medicine shortages and a lack of the necessary equipment to reach survivors trapped in collapsed buildings.

Many Indonesians are also criticizing the early lifting of the tsunami warning, arguing that the disaster could have been mitigated had the alarm continued for a longer period of time.

Kongko: 'The tsunami alert should have continued for at least an hour'

In an interview with DW, tsunami researcher Widjo Kongko said the Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics should not have called off the early alert for tsunami so soon after the first quake.

DW: It wasn't the first time that an earthquake and tsunami struck the area. Why, then, were the authorities not better prepared?

Widjo Kongko: The natural disaster law was only introduced in the country after the 2004 earthquake in Aceh. Also, Indonesians tend to get complacent about these disasters, as they happen frequently.

Since 1900, three tsunamis have hit Donggala and Palu cities. After studying them, researchers presented their recommendations on how to deal with such disasters to the government.

We have urged the government, especially the Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics and the National Disaster Management Authority, to work with other institutions so that Indonesia can improve its disaster management and disaster prevention mechanisms.

We need to improve our early warning system for disasters.

Indonesia tsunami and earthquake devastate Sulawesi island

A bridge washed away

On Friday, September 28, a massive tidal wave unleashed by a 7.5-magnitude quake slammed into the Indonesian city of Palu located on Sulawesi island. The impact washed away Palu's 300-meter (328 yard) double-arched bridge, plunging cars into the water.

Indonesia tsunami and earthquake devastate Sulawesi island

A deadly geophysical coincidence

This satellite image from October 1 shows how Palu is built on lowlands at the end of a narrow bay. Scientists say the shape of the bay amplified the size and power of the waves by forcing the water into a narrow and shallow channel. The earthquake's epicenter was also located close to shore, making the waves more powerful and leaving little time for warning.

Indonesia tsunami and earthquake devastate Sulawesi island

A flooded mosque

The wave hit Palu, a city with a population of 380,000, on Friday evening as Muslim worshippers were gathering for evening prayers in local mosques. Authorities said that many others were caught on the beach while preparing a festival which was set to start later in the day.

Indonesia tsunami and earthquake devastate Sulawesi island

Hospitals overwhelmed

With local hospitals crowded by hundreds of wounded, doctors were forced to treat the injured outside. Komang Adi Sujendra, director of a Palu hospital, urged assistance. "We need all the help we can get," he said. "We need field hospitals, medical workers, medicines and blankets."

Indonesia tsunami and earthquake devastate Sulawesi island

Burying the dead

On October 2, the official death toll of the tsunami and quake reached over 1,200. Authorities expect that number to rise as more people remain trapped. On October 1, the national disaster agency told AP that over 150 bodies were buried in a mass grave, with the burial operations onoing. Indonesia is a majority-Muslim nation, and religious custom calls for burial soon after death.

Indonesia tsunami and earthquake devastate Sulawesi island

Trapped below the rubble

The tsunami carried sand, mud and debris inland. Roads were blocked and communications disrupted with other cities. Rescue efforts in remote areas around Palu are being hampered by the extent of damage to infrastructure. More heavy equipment is also needed.

Indonesia tsunami and earthquake devastate Sulawesi island

'Liquified' earth

The heavy earthquake caused sand and silt saturated by water to take on liquid characteristics in a process known as liquefaction. The national rescue agency said that over 1,700 houses in the Palu area were wiped out by liquefied soil.

Indonesia tsunami and earthquake devastate Sulawesi island

President Widodo pledges to rebuild

Authorities managed to open the local airport a day after the tsunami, allowing the Indonesian mlitary to start delivering aid. The country's President Joko Widodo (r) visited the island and pledged to rebuild the city. The Associated Press reported that Widodo has authorized international help. The EU and 10 countries including the US, Australia and China have offered assistance.

Indonesia tsunami and earthquake devastate Sulawesi island

Looters risk life and limb

Indonesian media showed images of survivors entering the heavily damaged malls and supermarkets to loot supplies, despite the risk of building collapse. Some Palu residents started returning to their homes to salvage usable items. German news agency dpa reported on October 2 that police arrested 45 people in Palu for looting.

Indonesia tsunami and earthquake devastate Sulawesi island

Queuing for fuel

The earthquake and tsunami knocked out power to the island and left many residents without access to clean water and medical supplies. Some of them descended on gas stations to pump out fuel by hand for their generators.

Indonesia tsunami and earthquake devastate Sulawesi island

Foreign aid

President Widodo has opened the door to foreign aid organizations as 200,000 people remain in desperate need of food, water and medicine. International Search and Rescue (ISAR) Germany has sent personnel to assist authorities.

Indonesia tsunami and earthquake devastate Sulawesi island

Search called off

On October 11, authorities called off the search for missing people, leaving the whereabouts of around 5,000 people a mystery. Experts believe that many of the missing are buried underground after entire villages were swallowed by "liquid earth." To commemorate the missing, parks and monuments are planned for Balaroa, Petobo and Jono Oge, considered the worst-hit areas of the island.

Author: Darko Janjevic, Wesley Rahn

What can the government do on the technological front?

Researchers have published numerous studies and reports about earthquakes in Indonesia.

We need to urgently improve the early warning system for tsunami in upstream. Also, Indonesia needs to install sensors for sea monitoring. We once installed sea sensors but faced the risk of vandalism. But we can use other mechanisms in the future, such as fiber optics, which are safer

Why did Indonesian authorities call off the tsunami alert after the earthquake in Palu?

The authorities lifted the early tsunami warning after the station in Mamuju recorded a 6-cm tsunami. But they didn't take into account the tsunami in the bay of Palu, because the sensors did not function properly.

The main issue here is that it is not only an earthquake that causes tsunami - it is also triggered by submarine landslides. Because of this complexity, the early warning for tsuami should have lasted longer - at least for an hour.

Widjo Kongko is tsunami researcher at the Agency for the Indonesian Assessment and Application of Technology.